Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Simpson is an average Republican member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Republican Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Simpson was born in Burley, Idaho and raised in Blackfoot. He graduated from Utah State University and earned his DDS from Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation, he joined his father and uncle at the Simpson Family Dental Practice in Blackfoot, Idaho.[3]

Issues

Wilderness plan

In federal Boulder-Whiteclouds wilderness area in south central Idaho, Congressmen developed a federal wilderness plan called the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA). The plan had the backing of all four Idaho members of Congress in June 2010, when it had a hearing in the U.S. Senate.

Gov. Butch Otter sent a letter to the congressional delegation opposing parts of the plan. Bill Dart of the Idaho Recreation Council presented at the Senate hearing, saying motorized and non-motorized recreation groups will lose access to some areas if CIEDRA becomes law.

Since the hearing, Sen. Jim Risch has said that he would oppose the plan as it is currently written. At the Idaho Republicans state convention in Idaho Falls in June 2010, the convention moved to write Otter a letter thanking him for his opposition the act.

In mid-July 2010, Simpson posted a guest opinion on his website, in which he said that the plan is still necessary. Simpson called his plan to create 332,775 acres of federally-protected wilderness areas a plan crafted by Idahoans to prevent a takeover of the area by the U.S. government.

“If we leave things as they are, we give federal agencies free rein to cut off existing access or change land use policies at any time,” Simpson said. “There is a real risk that the Obama Administration could unilaterally designate this area as a national monument, giving Idahoans no input into how the land on which they live and recreate is managed.”

“Extremists on both sides of this issue may refuse to find middle ground, but for most Idahoans, this solution is one we can’t do without,” Simpson said in his opinion.[6]

Federal match for Medicaid extension, 2010

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $26 billion plan that will give money to states help pay for Medicaid and school districts' teachers salaries. The plan will save Idaho $68 million of a fund used for anti-drug programs.

Rep. Walter Minnick supported the measure, while Republican Michael K. Simpson joined members of his party in opposing it.

This spending plan extends the federal match for Medicaid for six more months, amounting to $16.1 billion. It provides $10 billion to school districts. Supporters say this will save 161,000 teachers' jobs. The federal government is cutting food stamps starting in 2014 and removing a foreign tax credit often used by businesses that ship jobs overseas, as well as other reductions, to pay for the new plan.

“When one broke unit of government borrows foreign money to bail out another broke unit of government, the inevitable loser is the taxpayer,” said Simpson said in a prepared statement.

“Other states have simply put off the tough decisions hoping and praying that the federal government will step in and solve their fiscal problems for them,” Simpson said. “What the House did today rewards poorly managed states, like California, and encourages their continued fiscal mismanagement while punishing the taxpayers of states, like Idaho, that have acted responsibly. It is not right and I cannot support it.”[7]

Presidential preference

Targeted by Club for Growth Action

In February 2013, the Club for Growth Action, a fiscally conservative Super PAC, launched a website called "www.PrimaryMyCongressman.com." According to the Club for Growth Action, "the purpose of the website is to raise awareness of Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are currently serving in safe Republican seats....The website will offer Club members and the general public the opportunity to recommend primary opponents to the incumbents highlighted by Club for Growth Action, as well as to recommend primary challengers for any Republican member of Congress. Club for Growth Action will rotate liberal Republicans through the website to highlight their failed records on limiting government." Simpson was one of the first nine incumbent Republicans to be targeted by the site, which gave him a lifetime Club for Growth rating of 58%.[9][10]

Specific votes

Fiscal Cliff

Simpson voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 85 Republicans that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[11]

Endorsements

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Michael K. Simpson, click [show] to expand the section.

2010

On November 2, 2010, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mike Crawford (D) and Brian Schad (I) in the general election.[14]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2010

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

68.8%

137,468

Democratic

Mike Crawford

24.4%

48,749

Independent

Brian Schad

6.8%

13,500

Total Votes

199,717

2008

On November 4, 2008, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Deborah Holmes (D) and Gregory Nemitz (Write-in) in the general election.[15]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2008

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

70.9%

205,777

Democratic

Deborah Holmes

28.9%

83,878

Write-in

Gregory Nemitz

0.2%

612

Total Votes

290,267

2006

On November 7, 2006, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Hansen (D), Cameron Forth (Independent) and Travis J. Hedrick (Constitution Party) in the general election.[16]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2006

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

62%

132,262

Democratic

Jim Hansen

34.4%

73,441

Independent

Cameron Forth

2.4%

5,113

Constitution Party

Travis J. Hedrick

1.2%

2,516

Total Votes

213,332

2004

On November 2, 2004, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Lin Whitworth (D) in the general election.[17]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2004

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

70.7%

193,704

Democratic

Lin Whitworth

29.3%

80,133

Total Votes

273,837

2002

On November 5, 2002, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Edward Kinghorn (D) and John A. Lewis (L) in the general election.[18]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2002

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

68.2%

135,605

Democratic

Edward Kinghorn

29%

57,769

Libertarian

John A. Lewis

2.8%

5,508

Total Votes

198,882

2000

On November 7, 2000, Michael K. Simpson won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Craig Williams (D) and Donovan Bramwell (L) in the general election.[19]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 2000

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpsonincumbent

70.7%

158,912

Democratic

Craig Williams

25.9%

58,265

Libertarian

Donovan Bramwell

3.4%

7,542

Total Votes

224,719

1998

On November 3, 1998, Michael K. Simpson won election to the United States House. He defeated Richard H. Stallings (D) and Jonathan Bradford Ratner (Natural Law) in the general election.[20]

U.S. House, Idaho District 2 General Election, 1998

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Republican

Michael K. Simpson

52.5%

91,337

Democratic

Richard H. Stallings

44.7%

77,736

Natural Law

Jonathan Bradford Ratner

2.8%

4,854

N/A

Write-in

0%

18

Total Votes

173,945

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Simpson is available dating back to 2000. Based on available campaign finance records, Simpson raised a total of $4,748,406 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 5, 2013.[21]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Simpson missed 293 of 9,871 roll call votes from Jan 1999 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 3.0%, which is worse than the median of 2.2% among current congressional representatives as of March 2013.[25]

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Simpson paid his congressional staff a total of $1,142,539 in 2011. He ranks 8th on the list of the highest paid Republican Representative Staff Salaries and he ranks 38th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Idaho ranks 25th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[26]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Simpson's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $1,575,565 and $2,345,559. That averages to $1,960,562, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2011 of $7,859,232. His average net worth increased by 1.86% from 2010.[27]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Simpson's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $1,515,342 and $2,334,334. That averages to $1,924,838, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[28]